£1,000 to do a course in Google marketing

The internet giant is to launch an online course to help people get into the marketing and advertising industries.

Squared, which is designed to fill the digital skills gap among graduates, aims to teach students by setting practical tasks — such as pitching business ideas, “energising” techniques, presenting an interactive drama lesson for school pupils, organising a flashmob and team-building exercises.

The course, based at the Squared office on Tottenham Court Road, has already been piloted in the “real world” in the form of six-week full-time courses with graduate workers from the capital’s marketing and advertising agencies.

From August 22, the course will launch online so that anyone can do it from home.

The part-time six-month course, which costs £1,000 and offers 400 scholarships, includes four to six hours a week of work.

As well as using online tools such as interactive tests, mentoring and lectures, students are also required to carry out tasks in the real world.

The first course will begin in September and then from January onwards new courses will launch monthly.

Course leader Sarah Tate said that of those who have “graduated” from the scheme so far, 84 per cent have been either promoted or given more responsibility in their workplace.

She said: “Experiential learning is a great way to get skills that you need for the workplace.”

Camilla Clarkson, 26, a media planner at Mindshare, said she has since used techniques that she learnt on the course.

Said Bhugeloo, 24, an SEO account manager at MEC from Forest Gate, said his boss told him he was a “completely new person” after doing the course.

Teaching techniques

Team-building

Students are told to imagine they are crossing an imaginary river in a public space to encourage them to work collaboratively.

“Energisers”

When you have lost the attention of your audience during a presentation, get everybody to dance to a pop song.

Harnessing the power of social media

Students might be asked to organise their own flashmob and show their work online.